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USB cable question

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by Triactus, Jun 16, 2010.

  1. Triactus

    Triactus United we stand, divided we fall Veteran

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    While a collegue was out of town for work, she said she had trouble transferring data from a card reader onto a hard drive. She switched the USB cable and it worked fine.

    I have the cable in hand and I am trying to figure out if it's broken or something. I just tried to transfer data with it and it worked. Is there some tests I can do to see what the transfer rate, etc. is with the cable? Since I was not there when the problem occured, I don't know if it was the operating system or the cable... :nolike:

    (I know I can buy another one, but it's just on principle of not throwing away working equipment)
     
    Triactus, Jun 16, 2010
    #1
  2. 8people

    8people 8 is just another way of looking at infinite ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran

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    [​IMG] Could be a kink in the wire or simple not have held in the socket properly if it was a problem with one device or where it was positioned.

    I tend to use things until they stop working completely so I'd hold onto it until it starts playing silly buggers with irritating frequency.
     
    8people, Jun 16, 2010
    #2
  3. Triactus

    Triactus United we stand, divided we fall Veteran

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    Thanks! Yeah, I was going to put it in "quarantine" until further notice, but I was hoping there was tech way to check the workability (is that a word?) of the cable... :)
     
    Triactus, Jun 16, 2010
    #3
  4. Tarrasque

    Tarrasque Whoever said Paladins had to be charismatic? ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    There probably is a way you can test the component wires electronically by finding out what the 'true values' should be and using a multimeter. By the time you've done all this, it'd have been cheaper (and a lot simpler) to buy a new cable.
     
    Tarrasque, Jun 16, 2010
    #4

  5. starfox64 Gems: 12/31
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    Maybe it's a USB 2.0 cable and her port was just an old Hi-Speed USB port. It wouldn't work. If you have a USB 2.0 port, it would work fine.
     
    starfox64, Jun 16, 2010
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  6. Morgoth

    Morgoth La lune ne garde aucune rancune Veteran

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    So this is what it is: Bits come in zeros and ones. Zeros are smooth while ones have sharp edges. Sometimes a one get stuck somewhere and blocks all other ones and zeros. This happens when the cable has many twists and bends. So what you need to do is straighten the cable up and then blow into one of the cable ends. Keep a bucket underneath the cable when you do this because if you're not careful the zeros and ones could all fall out and spill over your floor and you'd have to collect them with a magnet.

    Cheers
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2010
    Morgoth, Jun 17, 2010
    #6
    Triactus likes this.
  7. Triactus

    Triactus United we stand, divided we fall Veteran

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    LOL :lol: you had me up until the blow part... :p
     
    Triactus, Jun 17, 2010
    #7
  8. Ziad

    Ziad I speak in rebuses Veteran

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    Ted, is that you? :D
     
    Ziad, Jun 18, 2010
    #8
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